Differential spindle-drum drive for spinning frames



March 17, 1931. QWEN ET AL 1,795392 DIFFERENTIAL SPINDLE DRUM DRIVE FOR SPINNING FRAMES Filed April 28, 1930 \nvenfersl Henry A. Ow en Anihu Ambye by M 4% 27m Patented Mar. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HENRY A. OWEN, 0F FOXBORO, AND ANTHON AMBYE, 0F ANDOVER, MASSACHUSETTS,

ASSIGNORS TO DAVIS & FURIBER MACHINE COMPANY, OF NORTH ANDOVER, IvIASSA CI-IUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF IvIASSAGHUSETTS DXFFERENTIAL srINnLn-nnUM Application filed April 28,

This invention relates to spinning or twisting machines and particularly to the means employed to drive the spindles thereof.

In the art of spinning it has been a serious problem to devise a mechanism which will drive each spindle at the desired uniform rate of speed. It is the general object of'this 1nvention to provide means which will greatly increase the uniformity of the product obtained from the machine.

A specific object of the invention is to provide a drive for the spindles having two rotating elements, the driving surface of one of which moves faster than the other.

The object of the invention is further to provide a drive having two driving elements successivelyengaged by the driving bands and wherein the drum which is first engaged by the band as it passes from the spindles rotates at asurface speed in excess of the other drum thereby to create tension in the section of the band engaging the spindles resulting from the drag imposed on the band from its engagement with the slower moving drum.

A further object of the invention isto provide a drive of the character above described in which means are provided to create the proper ratio of speed in the driving elements irrespective of the direction of twist.

Other objects and features will more fully appear from the following description in con nection with the accompanying drawings and will beparticularly pointed out in the claims. The broad principles of the invention may be applied to all types of ring spinning machines and for that reason only those elements are shown in the, drawings which relate directly to the principles involved.

In the drawings: I

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a spinning frame showing a single group of spindles only and the mechanism for driving them.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1.

A great deal of the lack of uniformity in the products of the ring spinning machine have been due to inefficiency of the driving elements employed to drive the spindles. It is DRIVE FOR SPINNING FRAMES 1930. Serial No. 447,846.

thing approaching the ideal uniform drive,

but is only partially effective. Due to the fact that a plurality of spindles are driven from a single band there is of necessity a variation in tension in different sections of the band. The greatest tension exists in the run of band as it approaches the driving drum from its point of contact therewith back to the nearest spindle. Since the total power for all the spindles is delivered through this particular section the maximum tension exists therein while the power delivered through the sections of the band between the other spindles obviously is less. A possibility for irregularity of drive is thus most apparent. Moreover with the systems of drive now in use the degree of tension applied to the band is fixed by the practical limit in the size and weight of the tensioning means.

In the present invention the tension existing in the section of the band which engages the spindles is obtained independently of and may be employed in conjunction with or without a weighted tensioning pulley. To obtain the necessary tension in the band two driving elements are employed. Such elements may preferably consist of two drums similar to the drums now in use for driving the spindles. The bands are arranged to pass successively over each of the drums and thence to the spindles. Mea'ns'are also provided which function to drive one of the drums at a surface speed in excess of the other. In order to create the desired conditions for tensioning the band the drum which is first engaged by the band as it leaves the spindles must be driven at a surface speed inexcess of the other drum.

This differential in surface speed may be obtained in different ways within the broad scope of the invention. In the preferred form the elements are in the form of drums of the same diameter with a differential in the speeds of rotation which is advantageous in that it enables, as hereinafter disclosed, the provision to be made for reversing the twist but, particularly when provision for reverse twist is not essential, it is not necessary that the drums shall be of the same diameter.

In the form of the invention herein illustrated means are provided to reverse the conditions of drive so that the drum which now rotates the slower will rotate at a speed in excess of the other when the direction of twist is reversed.

In order more clearly to present the principles of the invention a specific embodiment thereof will be described. The usual arrangement of drums and bands is employed in which the drums 1 and 2 are engaged by a driving band 3. The band 3 preferably drives a group of spindles usually four in number. As shown herein the hand 3 passes succes sively around the spindles 4, 5, 6 and 7 in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 1. After leaving the spindles 7 the band passes under the direction pulley 8, over the drum 1. under an idler pulley 9, over the drum .2, under the direction pulley 10 from. where it passes to the spindle 4. thus completing its endless path. The idler pulley 9 is preferably located be tween and below the axes of the drums thus to cooperate with the direction pulleys 8 and 10 to provide a substantial wrap of the ban d about the drums.

The idler pulley 9 may be weighted or may contain sufiicient inherent weight to take up the slack in the run of band bet-ween the two drums and may be supported by means of an arm 11 pivoted to a fixed point on the machine. The arm 11 is desirably constructed in two sections joined together by a flexible connection 12. The pulley 9 is thus free to move vertically and laterally in the plane of the band 3.

The elements thus far described are or may be of standard structure. Novel means are provided however to drive the drums. The normal drive for this type of machine comprises driving elements which act to rotate the two drums at equal surface speeds. The broad principle of the present invention resides in providing a means to drive one of the drums at a surface speed in excess of the other. Any suitable means may be employed to accomplish this end. A desirable method is herein shown in which the drum 2 is provided with. a shaft 13 upon which is fixed a sprocket 14. The drum 1 is provided with a shaft 15 upon which are mounted a pair of sprockets 16 and 17 which are preferably slidably mounted on the shaft 15 so that the sprocket 17 may be moved into the plane whichthe sprocket 16 occupies in the drawing. To provide driving engagement with the shaft the gears 16 and 17 are splined to the shaft 15 by means of the spline 18. To

fix the gears longitudinally on the shaft a set screw 19 is provided. The sprockets may be independent of each other or preferably are integral which structure simplifies the adjustment thereof.

In order to establish a drive between the drums a chain 20 connects the sprockets 14 and 16. The sprocket 16 is slightly smaller in diameter than the sprocket 14 and for this reason rotates the shaft 15 slightly faster than the shaft 13. Since the two drums are of the same diameter their surfaces travel at different rates of speed, the surface of the drum 1 moving faster than that of the drum 2.

Under the above conditions as the drums rotate the band 3, between the point where it leaves the drum 2 and Where it engages the drum 1, is subjected to a substantial tension. The tension is set up in the band by reason of the drag of the band on the drum 2 which constantly lags in surface speed over the speed at which the other drum is traveling. The amount of drag and consequently the tension in the band is determined by the difference in diameter of the sprockets 14 and 16. Power to drive the drums is preferably applied at one of. the shafts by mounting the sprocket 21 onthe shaft 13. The sprocket 21 is connected to any suitable source of power preferably to a moving part of the machine by means of a chain not shown.

It becomes desirable under certain circumstances to reverse the direction of rotation of the spindles. When this is done the direction of driving of the band is necessarily reversed which changes the conditions tending to create tension in the hand. To compensate for the changed conditions the chain 20 is removed from the sprocket 16 and the sprocket 17 is moved into the plane which the sprocket 16 previously occupied. When in this position it is secured by means of the set screw 19 after which the chain 20 is applied thereto. The drive between the drums is now determined by the sprockets 14 and 17. The sprocket 17 is of greater diameter than the sprocket 14 consequently the drum 2 now rotates faster than the drum 1 thereby creating the same tensioning conditions in the band as that which existed before the direction of twist was reversed.

In order that the same chain may be used for either direction of twist an idler sprocket 22 is rotatably mounted in the path of the chain 20 on a stud shaft 23 which is adjustable in a slot 24 in the frame of the machine. \Vhen a change of drive is made the shaft 23 is moved in the slot until the chain has normal engagement with the sprockets and is then secured in position on the frame by means of the nut 25. While the above described chain drive constitutes an eflicient design other means of driving the drums may be employed however such, for instance, as a train of gearing.

Any convenient method may be employed to reverse the direction of rotation of the drums. One desirable method is to mount a gear :26 on the shaft 13. The gear 26 meshes with a gear 27 rotatably mounted on a fixed shaft 28 secured in the frame of the machine. To reverse the drive the sprocket 21 with its driving chain is removed from the shaft 13 and secured to the shaft 28 thereby causing the drums to be driven through the pair of gears 26 and 27.

By means of the above described mechanism a high degree of tension is created in the band with a consequent positively uniform drive of the spindles. Furthermore the degree of tension is under perfect control by properly proportioning the driving sprockets. When the correct ratio of drive is found the amount of drag of the band on the slower moving drum is positively and invariable determined.

The driving system herein described is relatively more eflicient than the driving systems at the present time employed for the reason that the tension in the band at the point where it engages the spindles is or may be relatively greater than the tension which is practically possible to create by other tensioning means such, for instance, as a weighted tension pulley. Since the overall tension in the band is relatively great the difference in tension between the sections of the band between the spindles of the group is practically of no consequence in its effect upon the driving condition existing at each of the spindles. The function of the idler pulley 9 is chiefly to provide the maximum wrap of the band about the drums and serves to maintain a definite tension in the run of band between the two drums.

It is to be understood that the spindle drive herein described functions to drive the spindles by frictional engagement with the bands. The character of such a drive tends to introduce irregularities in the drive of each independent spindle due to slippage of the bands. The slippage is due to the slack condition of the band as it is let off the driving drum to approach the spindle which is first engaged by the band. As above pointed out this slack of the band is entirely absorbed by the drag of the slower moving drum.

Having thus described the invention. what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a spinning frame, a plurality of spindles, two driving elements, an endless band extending successively in frictional engagement with the driving elements thence in frictional engagement with the spindles and thence to the driving elements, acting to drive the spindles from said driving elements, means to drive one of said driving elements, means connecting the two driving elements to rotate the one first engaged by the band as it drag on the slower moving driving element to produce tension in the section of the band engaging the spindles.

2. In a spinning frame, a plurality of spindles, two driving drums, an endless band ex- Q ending successively in frictional engagement with the driving drums thence in frictional engagement with the spindles and thence to the driving drums, acting to drive the spindles from the driving drums, and means for driving both drums acting to cause the drum first engaged by the band as it leaves the spindles to be driven at a surface speed in excess of the other thereby to cause the band to drag on the slower moving drum to produce tension in the section of the band engaging the spindles.

3. In a spinning frame, groups of spindles, two driving drums, an endless band for each group extending successively in frictional engagement with the driving drums thence in frictional engagement with the spindles and thence to the driving drums, acting to drive the spindles from the driving drums, means for driving both drums acting to cause the drum first engaged by the band as it leaves the spindles to be driven at a surface speed in excess of the other drum thereby to cause the band to drag on the slower moving drum to produce tension in the section of the band engaging the spindles.

4. In a spinning frame, a plurality of spin dles, two driving drums, an endless band extending successively in frictional engagement with the driving drums thence in fric:

tional engagement with the spindles and thence to the driving drums acting to drive the spindles from the drums, means for driving one drum and therefrom the second druln in a given direction of rotation acting to cause the drum first engaged by the band as it leaves the spindles to be driven at a surface speed in excess of the other drum, means for reversing the direction of rotation of said drums and means for adjusting said; driving means to cause the drum first engaged by the band as it leaves the spindles to rotate at a surface speed in excess of the other drum while being driven in a reversed direction thereby providing means to cause the band to drag on the'slower moving drum to produce tension in the section of the band engaging the spindles for either direction of twist.

5. In a spinning frame, a plurality of spindles, two driving drums, an endless band extending successively in frictional engagement with the driving drums thence in frictional engagement with the spindles and thence to the driving elements acting to drive the spindlesfrom said driving drums, means to drive one of said drums, and-means connecting the driven drum with the other drum acting to rotate the drum first engaged by the band as it leaves the spindles at a surface speed in excess of the other drum thereby to cause the band to drag on the slower moving driving drum to produce tension in the section of the band engaging the spindles.

6. In a spinning frame, groups of spind'les, two driving drums, an endless band for each group extending successively in frictional engagement with the driving drums thence in frictional en 'agement with the spindles and thence to the driving drums, means to drive one of said drums, means connecting the driving drum with the other drum acting to rotate the drum first engaged by the band as it leaves the spindles at a surface speed in excess of the other drum thereby to cause the band to drag on the slower moving driving drum to produce tension in the section of the band engaging the spindles.

7. In a spinning frame, a plurality of spindles, two driving drums, an endless band extending successively in frictional engagement with the driving drums thence in frictional engagement with the spindles and thence to the driving elements, means to drive one of the drums, means connecting the driven drum with the other drum acting to rotate the drum first engaged by the band as it leaves the spindles at a surface speed in excess of the other drum and means operable to cause the drum having the faster surface speed to rotate at a slower surface speed than the other drum when the direction of twist is reversed thereby providing means to cause the band to drag on the slower moving drum to produce tension in the section of the band engaging the spindles for either direction of twist.

8. In a spinning frame, a plurality of spindles, two driving drums, an endless band extending successively in frictional engagement with the driving driuns thence in frictional engagement with the spindles and thence to the driving drums acting to drive the spindles from said driving drums, a sprocket secured to one of said drums, a second sprocket of less diameter secured to the other drum, a chain connecting said sprockets acting when the drums are driven to rotate them at a constant differential rate of surface speed and means acting to drive the drums in such direction that the band as it leaves the spindles will first engage the drum having the greater surface speed thereby to cause the band to drag on the slower moving driving drum to produce tension in the section of the band engaging the spindles.

9. In a spinning frame, a plurality of spindles, two driving drums, an endless band extending successively in frictional engagement with the driving drums, thence in frictional engagement with the spindles and thence to the driving drums, a driving shaft for one of said drums, a sprocket on the shaft, a driving shaft for the other drum, a pair of sprockets slidably mounted on the shaft, one of which is less and the other of which is greater in diameter than the first named sprocket, a chain operable selectively to connect the first named sprocket with either of the sprockets on the last named shaft, acting when the drums are driven to rotate them at a constant differential rate of surface speed and means acting to drive the drums in such direction that the band as it leaves the spindles will first engage the drum having the greater surface speed as it leaves the spindles.

10. In a spinning frame, the elements delined in claim 8 together with a weighted tensioning pulley acting to maintain a constant tension in the run of band between the driving drums.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification.

HENRY A. OWEN. ANTHON AMBYE. 

